Tone-modifying device for pianos



Sept. 30 1924.

1,510,192 R. c FINDER TONE MODIFYING'DEVICE FOR PIANOS Filed Sept. 14. 1921 3 Sheetsdheet 1 my n Roland E; Finder Sept. 30, 1924. 1,510,192

R. C PINDER TONE MODIFYING DEVICE FOR PIANOS Filed Sept. 14, 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 2 R uland ELl irLder Sept. 30 i 1924.

R. C FINDER TONE MODIFYING DEVICE FOR PIANOS Filed Sept. 14. 192] 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 gwve'nfoz Roland. ElP'LndEr Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES ROLAND C. FINDER, OF LIMA, OHIO.

TONE-MODIFYING DEVICE FOR PIANOS.

Application filed September 14, 1921.

1 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROLAND C. FINDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lima, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Tone-Modifying Devices for Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tone modifying devices for use upon pianos and the like.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an attachment for use upon pianos whereby the natural tone thereof may be modified to simulate the tone of a ukulele or the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel attachment for use upon pianos, which can be used as anaccessory thereon, interfering in no manner with the standard equipment of the piano and ca pable of easy regulation to selectively change the tone of a iano simulatin the pia in 7 n i zof other string instruments.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of the above de scribed character, in which the parts thereof have been made detachable and adjustable to conform to the details of different .n'iakes of pianos.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tone modifying element, constructed of special materials, and adapted for disposition intermediate a treble string and hammer of a piano to function in th piano action, whereby vibrations of the string will cooperate with the tone modifying member to simulate the tone obtained from vibration of a. ukulele. string.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which similar reference characters designate corre sponding parts throughout the several. views.

Figure l is a cross sectional view of the upper portion of a piano, showing the attachment mounted therein.

Figure 2 is a front elevation, in cross section, of the working arrangement of the at tachment in a piano.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the regulating means used in connection with the attachment.

Serial No. 500,546.

ing the ukulele attachment l3 mounted' therein.

The piano A may of course be of the upright, grand, or player type. For purpose of illustration the upright type of piano has been shown, and which includes the casing 10; tone board 11; vertically positioned strings 12; and key board 13. i

The ukulele attachment B preferably comprises the supporting bracket structures 15;

supporting rail structure-16; control cable 17; tone modifying means 18; and regulating means 19.

The supporting bracket structure 15 comprises a pair of substantially U-shaped bracket elements 20, each of which includes an upper arm 21, a lower arm 22, and a connecting or bight portion 23. The bight portion is provided with a plurality of apertures 2st, ada ited for receiving screw elements 25, for attachment of the bight portion 23 of the brackets 20 to the opposite side 26 and 27 of the piano casing 10. The brackets 20 are of course, positioned in cooperating relation upon the sides 26 and 27, and in such manner that the arms 21 and 22 project inwardly of the piano. Suitable apertures are formed in the free ends of each of the arms 21 and 22 for the reception of the reduced stems 29 of a guide rod or shaft 30. Buffer elements 31, preferably discs of felt padding, are placed about the guide rods 20 and immediately upon the inside surface of the lower arm 22 of each bracket 20.

The supporting rail 16 includes the end strips or blocks 33 of similar formation, and having transverse apertures 34 extending throughthe width thereof and for receiving the guide rods 30. A treble strip 35, and a bass strip 36, are connected in oflset parallel relation as by the screw elements 37, the extreme ends of each of the strips 35 and 36 being seated within recesses 1n the end pieces 83, and for connection by detachable screw element 39 thereto. Thus, when the end portions 33 and intermediate treble and bass sections 35 and 86 are connected as above described, they comprise a longittulinal rail member. The apertures 34 aredisposed inwardly from the extreme end of the end portions 33, to provide a portion of the strip 33 upon each end of the rail member 18, which projects inwardly of its guide rod 30 and is provided with a relatively small aperture 40 through the thickness thereof. Adjustable and detachable lock screw and washer structures 41 are disposed adjacent the apertures 40 and intermediate the same and the rods 30, and for a purpose to be subsequently described.

The modifying means 18, preferably comprises the felt strip 43 for use in connection with the bass strings of the piano scale, and the individual modifying members 44 for use in connection with single strings of the middle and end sections of the treble scale. The surface 45 of the rail 16 which faces the key board of the piano A, is provided with three lengths of wire 4?, one for each section of the pic no scale; saidwires 4'? being detachably supported at their ends between spaced pins or nails 49, which are attached in the rails 16 to project from the surface 45 thereof. The bass felt section 43 is slotted, in suitable manner along its up per marginal edge for threading a supporting Wire 47 therethrough, whereby the same may be pendently hung from the wire and the rail 16. As is clearly shown in Figure 2, this lower bass felt strip 43 covers all of the bass strings of the piano scale.

Each one of the treble tone modifying members 44 are of similar construction, the body portion 50 thereof preferably being a strip of flannel or other flexible material, and having a disc shaped leather tip secured to an extreme end and upon one side thereof as by any suitable means 'lhe opposite end of the strip of material 50, is provided with a substantially t l-shaped hook member 53, of some soft metal, such as tin, zinc, copper or the like. This hook member 53 crimps the end of the strip 50 between adjacent flanges thereof, to provide a hook 54 of the remaining flanges, whereby the same may be crimped in detachable and adjustable manner over a supporting wire 47 on the rail 16. Since the wires 4'? of the treble section of the piano scale are detachable, the tonemodifying elements 44 may, of course, be hooked thereover and adjustec into position, to conform to the individual strings of the treble scale. This is an important feature, since many piano scales have the strings thereof at varying distances. In this manner, the leather tipped portions til of the members 44 are pendantly held to face tne strings of the piano scale.

In connection with the sliding movement of the rail 16, a pulley block 56 is provided, having an end thereof bifurcated to provide the stems 58 and 59, projecting therefrom, whereby a device pin 60 may be disposed transversely through sale stems 58 and 59, and which is for reception of the flexible control cable 17. if desired, a pulley sleeve 61 may be placed over this shaft or dial pin 60, whereby the same acts as a pulley to more readily permit sliding of the regulating cable 1?. The pulley block 56 is provided with suitable apertures 68 therein, for detachably receiving screws 64 for supporting the pulley block 56. The screws 64 are adapted for sliding movementwithin the slot placed longitudinally of the arm 21 of each bracket 20. This slot 65 is disposed adjacent one edge of the arm 21, and whereby when the block 56 is assembled thereto, the arm 59 thereof projects outwardly from the marginal edge of the bracket 20.

The llexible cable 17, is preferably of braided dark green curtain cord, and may be of a single length. in applying the cable 17, the same is doubled intermediate its ends, and fastened to the eye 65 of a link i'i'iember 66, said link 66 forming a part of the regulating means 19 to be subsequently described.

l rom its connection with the eye 65, the two parts of the cable 17 are strung through an cye bolt 67, which is attached on the i ide surface of the piano side 27. From the eye bolt 67, the doubled cable 17 is swung upwardly o er the pulley sleeve 61. of a pulley block 56, in a vertical manner. One end of the cable 17, which is swung over the pulley block 56 is then brought downwardly, in vertical manner, and strung thror h the aperture 40, which is on the l rail 16, adjacent the piano side the e eritreme end of this portion 69,

of .ie is looped back over the portion c ned in th lock screw and washer device 4 nrope supporting one end of the rail 16. The other portion 70, which is looped over the pulley block is strung in taut man parallel of the rail 16, and engages over pulley block 56 of the eke which attached to the piano side d looped in similar manner the portion 69 thr ngh the end of the rail 16, which is ad acent the piano side 26. it 11y be seen that if a person pulls on the le ible cable l7, where the same is doubled, this will have the efiect of causing the ends 69 and 70 of said cable 17 to ride ov cr the pulley blocks 56, raise the rail 16.

lhe regulating mechanism 19 preferably comprises the supporting block 753 having the bell crank lever 76 pivotally mounted by a detacha screw 7"? at the bight portion of its arms 78 and 79. The free end of the arm 78 is apertured for the pivotal reception of one end of the link element 66, above mentioned, said end being the end opposite the eye thereon. The arm 7%) is provided as the finger engaging arm and is provided with a knob 80 thereon. The regulating mechanism 19 is attached in detachable manner by the screw elements 81 to the under surface 82 of the pip keyboard 13, and adjacent the right hand side of the piano. A stop screw or pin 83 is provided in the board for engaging the hand engaging arm 79 for holding the link member 66 and its adjacent connecting portion of the cable 17 past dead center of the bell crank 7 6, when said regulating means 19 is adjusted to support the rail 16 in floating manner, and as illustrated in FiguresQ and 4- of the drawings. When the bell crank 76 is oscillated upon a pivot 77, whereb the same assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Figure of the drawings, the cable 17 is released, whereby the dead center position is passed and the cable 17 is released sufficiently to lower the frame 16, whereby the under surface thereof contacts upon the buffer members 31.

It is preferred, that the attaching wires 47, and the tone modifying members 43 and l t supported therefrom, be clamped in rigid secure manner to the rails 16. To this end, the clamping strips 80 have been provided, having a longitudinal groove 81 extending upon the inside face 82 thereof, and which is adapted for receiving the wires 47 and the hooked elements 53, to secrete the same therein. Detachable screws 83 are provided, engaging transversely through the clamp members 80 and for engaging in the rail 16, to support the tone modifying elements 4.3 and 44s in their adjusted position and against lateral displacement with respect to the strings of the piano scale.

In operation, when desiring touse the piano with the ukulele attachment, whereby the strings on the piano scale will simulate ukulele playin the operator or player grasps the thumb portion 80 of the bell crank 76 and swings the same to the position indicated in dotted lines, whereby, as above mentioned the rail 16 is lowered in the supporting brackets 20. This lowering of the rail 16 has the effect of likewise low--- ering the tone modifying members 48 and Pi, whereby the same are placed intermediate the strings of the scale and the hammer heads 85. As the player strikes the keys (not shown) of the piano, the ordinary piano action takes place, whereby the hammers 85 are thrown forward to hit the strings 12 of the piano. Due to the interpositioning of the tone modifying elements 43 and 44, the hammers 85 will strike the same and force the same into contact with the string 12 for v brati elements =1 v, brat-ing strings i2 -10 simulate in; lele playing. Due to the fact (hit the l ments til are provided for contac" ciiecfi representation of ukulele playing is efiiected. This is v due to the fact that the leather tip hard enough and yet of sutlicient remanner, the same being guided y the ide rods 30, whereby the tone modifying eicments l-3 and 4',- are drawn upwardly out of the path of the movement of the hammers 85, and whereby said hammers 85 may contact directly on the strings as in ordinary piano playing.

in important feati'zre of this invention is the adjustability and detachability of all parts, whereby the same may be sold as an accessory for attachment, in almost universal manner, to pianos. The pulley blocks 56 have been made aojustable in the supportin; brackets 20, whereby the portions 69 and 70 of the flexible cable 17, may assume an exact vertical position, when lifting the rail 16 to prevent 'ipping or swin of the same. The exact horizontal position of the rail 6, can of course, be n'iaintaiued justability of the fe ible cable 17, ed through the lock screw and w icr arrangements ll. The elements 4-3 and is are of course adjustable and detacha ie. as above described.

Various changes in the size, shape raugement of parts may be me i of intention herein shown i without departing from the spire. vention or the scope of tlie i I claim:

Hit)

bv as lid 1. A piano attachment, coof substantially U-shape rods mounted in said lflllt modifying means on said pulley bloclts on each said l 213) operating to reciprocate the rail on said brackets.

device of the class described, comprism a rail, tone modifying means on said defined relation.

l. IL device of the class described, comprising; a pan oi substantially lash .d

brackets including arms and a bight portion, guide rods engaging the free ends of the arms of said brackets, a rail having; aperti es t1 sversely t'lerethrough in each end for receiving; the guide rods of brackets, said rail having each end portion projecting inwardly from the guide rod and to Ward the bight portion of its adjacent bracket, tone modifying means on rail, and control including a flexible able engaging the ends oi. said rail for regulating;- reciprocatory movement thereof in said brackets.

5. A device of the class described, comprisng a pair of substantially ll-shaped brackl ets including arms and a bight portion, a guide rod engaged in the free ends of two arms 01 each of said brackets, a rail ha- 5 apertures transversely therethrom h in ea h end for receiving; the guide rods cl said brackets, said rail having each end portion projecting inwardly from the uide rod an d toward the bight portion oi; its acji bracket, tone modifying means on said rail, :1. flexible cable engaging the free ends of said rail, butler elements on said guide rods to receive said rail thereon, adjustable pulley blocks in each of said bracl ets to receive said cable thereon for vertical movement of said rail, and control means for operating said flexible cable to entirely support the rail in a set portion.

6. musical instrument attachment comprising a supporting rail, tone modifying means, means supporting said tone modifying; means on said rail for lateral adjustment thereon, and clamping means for securely fastening said tone modifying means on said rail in a fixed position.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a piano including,- bass and treble strings, and a piano action, of rail, means mounting said rail for move ment relative to the strings, tone modifying elements mounted on said rail for cooperation with said treble strings, and tone modifying means for said bass strings different from said treble string tone modifying means.

8. ln a device of the class described, the combination with a piano including 'iass, and treble strings, of a rail mounted in slidable manner tierein, and includin sections connected together in parallel relation and offset with respect to each other, a plurality of Wires detachably mounted upon said rail sections, tone modifying members for the individual treble strings of the piano scale for adjustable anddetachable arrangement on said Wires, and a single adjustable and detachable tone modifying member mounted on one of said Wires for the bass strings of the piano scale.

9. A tone modifying member comprising a flexible body, a leather tip exteriorly upon one end thereof, and a substantially W- shaped metallic hook of easily bent material crimped upon the other end of said flexible boc y.

10. In a tone modifying device for pianos the con'ibination with a piano incl uding bass and treble strings, of an elongated rail memher, a length of flexible material supported by portion of said rail member, a series of individual separate tone modifying members carried by the remaining portion oi said rail member, and means mounting said rail member with respect to the bass and treble strings so that the length of flexible ma erial may cooperate against the bass strings and the tone modifying members may cooperate against the individual treble strings.

11. In a tone modifying device for pianos he combination with the bass and treble :trings of a piano, of elongated rail, a strip of felt supported by the rail in adjustable relation therealong, a series 01" flexible modi lying members carried by said rail in adjustable relation therealong, means to clamp the tone modifying felt strip and series of members in a set position upon the rail, and means mounting the rail with respect to the bass and treble strings so that the strip of felt may cooperate ao'ainst said bass strings and the series of flexible tone modu lating members may cooperate against the individual treble strings.

12. ln a device of the class described, the con'ibination with a piano including bass and treble strings, and a piano action, or" a rail. means mounting said rail for movement relatively to the st lugs and piano action. Wires carried longitudinally on said rail, tone modifying members detachably supported by said Wires for adjustment along said rail, and a clamping member carried by said rail adapted to secure said tone modifying members in a fixed position.

ROLAND C. FINDER. 

